What it's really like to live with lupus, as told in 14 harrowing confessions

Everyone gets sick -- but part of what's so amazing about the human body is that we have a built in security system that can help us get better. If you have lupus, your immune system might not only be less efficient at destroying threatening viruses, bacteria, germs, etc., but also blind to the difference between healthy and unhealthy tissue. In other words, your antibodies might start fighting some of your healthy cells, causing anything from some mild inflammation to serious life-threatening situations. And while this disease may seem rare or unusual, it's estimated that 5 million people globally have some form of lupus.

Several people with lupus took to Whisper, the popular app that provides an anonymous platform for people to share their most honest thoughts, to explain what it's really like to suffer from the disease.

1. Nothing makes you feel as capable as knowing how much worse you could be feeling:

2. Half the battle might be putting on a smile when you really want to cry:

3. It might be depressing to think that your disease is holding you back from dreams you might have otherwise accomplished:

4. Knowing your body is extremely important, but it may come at the risk of putting out people you care for: